With flops such as TRON: Legacy, Cowboys & Aliens and The Change-Up under her belt you might have wondered whether people would start to think of Olivia Wilde is some kind of kiss of death to a film. However she’s got a slew of other movies that have yet to be released that might prove she doesn’t poison the box office, and Ron Howard will certainly be hoping that’s true as Deadline reports that he’s cast her in Rush.
The film is based on the true story of Formula 1 racing legend Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl), and his famed rivalrly with James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth). Olivia Wilde will play Suzy Miller, a supermodel in the 1970s who fell in love with and married Formula 1 racer James Hunt. However, after they tied the knot, Miller fell for actor Richard Burton, who was friends with Hunt. Burton even paid the $1 million divorce settlement that Hunt owed Miller, and he and Miller were married shortly thereafter. Ron Howard is reportedly hoping actor Russell Crowe will portray Richard Burton in Rush, although it is said to be a small role and there’s no news if Crowe is interested.
Wilde will next be trying to prove she can be in movies that make money with In Time and Butter, both of which are due out in the next few months.